US academia warns against decoupling

Experts call for foresight as collaboration with China will benefit the whole world

With once vibrant US-China research collaboration caught in the crosshairs of political tension amid mounting concerns over "national security", there's a growing chorus among US academia warning of the chilling consequences of decoupling and urging policymakers to navigate the path with nuance and foresight.

At the center of the debate over whether to continue research collaboration with China lies the "immense benefits" to not only the two countries but also the whole world, said some experts on US-China relations.

Scott Rozelle, co-director of the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions, paints a compelling picture of a symbiotic relationship fueled by the "rise of coauthored papers and interacting students", highlighting how the cross-border networks drive "advancement in research and technology" across diverse fields.

"International collaborations aim to facilitate progress to solve problems that we just can't solve by ourselves," he said at a recent webinar examining scholar exchanges between the US and China.

"Among the most productive research collaborations in all academia, including in STEM and social sciences, is the partnership between the United States and China," he continued, adding that "many studies have documented the benefits of this collaboration".

A study by Molly Roberts, a professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego, and co-director of the China Data Lab at the 21st Century China Center, provides evidence of this partnership.

Roberts' analysis of a National Institutes of Health database reveals a dramatic rise in China's co-authorship with US scientists in life sciences.

In 2010, China was the fourth-most frequent collaborator with US scientists in the number of publications, behind the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada, according to her study.

The position changed in 2013, when China overtook all the other countries to become the No 1 collaborator with US scientists. The trend continued into 2016 and peaked in 2019. After that, the collaborations began to decline.

The latest NIH data in 2021 shows that China is still the most frequent collaborator with US scientists in life sciences, said Roberts.

"While the recent dip signifies a potential shift, China remains the premier collaborator, showcasing the depth and breadth of this scientific bond," she said.

Deborah Seligsohn, an assistant professor of political science at Villanova University, expanded the lens beyond life sciences, tracing the historical roots of the decadeslong scientific collaboration between the US and China.

She pointed to the Science and Technology Agreement signed by the US and China in 1979, the first treaty the two countries signed after the normalization of the bilateral relationship.

Fertile ground

She viewed the agreement as a fertile ground from which joint research blossomed. From paleontological expeditions in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region to collaborative efforts on climate change and public health, Seligsohn underscored the "incredibly valuable" outcomes of the partnership, particularly after the year 2000.

However, the Donald Trump administration's shift toward decoupling cast a long shadow over the scientific relationship. Seligsohn warned of the "enormous risk" of cutting off ties at a moment when Chinese scientists "can contribute equally to any project".

Ironically, she argued, "We're at a moment where we actually can gain a lot from working with Chinese partners."

A major concern fueling decoupling anxieties revolves around "national security". However, experts urge caution against conflating open scientific collaboration with sensitive research.

They argue that the answer lies in nuance, not blanket bans. The biggest obstacle, they all agree, is "policy ambiguity". Scientists are left confused, fearing increased scrutiny and potential sanctions for collaborating with Chinese counterparts.

That, Seligsohn warned, could lead to the US "losing out on some of the top talent" if scientists shy away from partnering with China.